Flue forming element for skillets



June 8, 1954 H 2,680,532

FLUE FORMING ELEMENT FOR SKILLETS Filed March 24, 1952 INVENTOR. PAUL/NE D. MITCHELL,

A TTO ENE Ys.

Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STAY'ES i it'i'hid'l QEFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a flue forming ele ment mountable upon a skillet for preventing grease from spattering onto the stove or onto the person while using the skillet for cooking.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flue forming element which is made of flexible material and which is removably mountable upon a skillet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flue forming element which is simple of structure and commercially feasible.

Other objects of the present invention and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the flue forming element of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the flue forming element of the present invention mounted upon a skillet.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Hi designates the flue forming element of the present invention, such element being fabricated of a one piece strip of flexible material such as heavy absorbent material, foil or like material, and being in the shape of a horseshoe as shown in Figure 1, said horseshoe strip lying in a plane. Integrally connected to and projecting from the portion of the inner bounding edge H of the horseshoe shaped element or strip 19 on one side of the longitudinal median line A--A of the element are at least two spaced tabs 12 and i3. As the structure of the tabs is the same, only one will be specifically described. The tab 12 is of a button shape but having a straight side hi nearest the adjacent free end 9 of the element 19. Extending inwardly from the straight side it of the tab 12 adjacent its connection to the inner edge H of the element 19 is a slot l5. Also, integrally connected to and projecting from the portion of the inner edge ll of the element H] on the other side of the longitudinal median line A--A of the element 10 are at least another two spaced tabs 16 and I7. Since each of the latter tabs is the same structurally only one will be described in detail. Tab I6 is likewise of a button shape but having a straight side is remote from the adjacent free end I9 of the element 10, and extending inwardly from the straight side 18 of the tab 16 adjacent its connection to the inner edge H of the element It is aslot 20.

The flue forming element It is removably mountable upon a skillet. By reference to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the slot 20 of the tab l8 interlocks with the slot P of the tab 12,

resulting in the conversion of the element 19 into a flue, and that such flue embraces and rests removably upon the top of a skillet 2i and the adjacent portion of the handle 22 projecting exterio'rly from the skillet. With the element l9 connected together as above pointed out to form a flue, the air and fumes from the cooking pass freely through the flue but preventing the grease from spattering onto the stove or onto the person using the assembly for cooking.

After use, the flue is readily lifted from the top of the skillet 2|, and may then be employed to wipe the stove and to remove the grease from the skillet.

By interlocking the slot 15 of the tab 12 with the slot 29 of the tab I? or the slot 15 of tab 13 with the slot 29 of tab 16, the element 10 forms a flue of a size to embrace and rest removably upon the top of a skillet of a smaller size than that of skillet 2!.

I claim:

flue forming element for a skillet comprising a one piece strip of flexible material and shaped in the form of a horseshoe, said horseshoe strip lying in a plane, at least two spaced tabs integrally connected to and projecting from the portion of the inner bounding edge of said horseshoe strip on one side of the longitudinal median line of the horseshoe strip, and at least another two spaced tabs integrally connected to and projecting from the portion of the inner bounding edge of said horseshoe strip on the other side of said median line, each of said. tabs being formed with a slot adjacent its connection to the inner edge of said element, a slot of one of the tabs on one side of said median line being selectively interlockingly engageable with the slot of one of the tabs on the other side of said median line to thereby form a flue forembracing and resting upon the top of a skillet.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 178,145 I-Iauck May 30, 1876 371,353 Perry Oct. 11, 1887 497,162 Backman May 9, 1893 1,673,947 Paddison June 19, 1928 1,929,065 Hiatt Oct. 3, 1933 1,991,169 Moone Feb. 12, 1935 2,172,162 Gillette Sept. 5, 1939 2,552,702 Woolfolk May 15, 1951 2,611,510 Willits Sept. 23. 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 179,889 Switzerland Dec. 2, 1935 

